Can you connect speakers to a guitar amp?

Using my computer as a Guitar Amp?

• I want to be able to somehow connect my Electric Guitar to my computer so that I can use it as if it were an amp using the speakers I have. What would I need? How much would the cheapest setup cost? A decent one? Anythign I should know about this would be very helpful. Thanks.

• Answer:

  If you've got 5 dollars and 15 minutes you can do this. And it'll sound amazing and be completely playable. No pirated software, nothing illegal or dodgy. And you'll be able to record your playing, multitrack it with other guitar parts you play, add effects, synthesizers, drums. Anything you want. That price again? 5 bucks. Less than 2 packages of bacon. Using top of the line gear the same thing could cost over 10 grand. (dude, I hope you vote this best answer once you try it) Let's assume you're using a pc. (If you're on a mac it's still possible but some details are different.) Here's what you need as far as computer hardware. A computer (If it's less than 5 years old it'll do just fine.) A soundcard with an audio input jack (look at the back of your computer, close to where you plug the 1/8" speaker cable in. There should be one or two other jacks that look the same. One of them is the audio input.) You've probably got a 1/4" patch cable for you guitar. This is a mono cable. You're going to need a 1/4" mono female to 1/8" stereo male adapter. 2 bucks at Radio Shack. This lets you plug your guitar into the back of the computer. Once you've gotten this far you can actually play the guitar through the computer speakers. Try it. You'll have to play with the soundcard control panel and make sure you have "line in" or "microphone" enabled. Just play around with it - there aren't a lot of options and it'll be easy to figure out. Now you need to process the audio coming in with a simulation of a guitar amplifier. It turns out there is a really amazing one out there, and it's free. http://frettedsynth.asseca.com/ampsims.html#FreeAmp2 (if they kill the link just google Free Amp VST) This is actually a plugin, called a VST, which is compatible with all the high end, expensive digital music programs out there. And you can't run a VST by itself. But it turns out that Audacity, a free audio tool, can host VST plugins. I'm typing this on my mac and the download site won't let me see the PC download page. But just go to http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ and grab the pc version. Also download the VST enabler located on the same page. (no link? google audacity sound editor) Ok. Install Audacity. You can actually use it now to record what's coming in off your soundcard. Tweak it a little and you'll figure it out in about a minute. It's simple. Now you tell Audacity to load a VST plugin. When you do, the FreeAmp window will open up and you'll see an amazing array of guitar pedals and effects. They work just like the real things. That's it. I'm sorry, you might have to spend 2 dollars to make this happen. And I have skipped a few steps and just said "figure it out." If you can't, I allow emails. Just send me one and I'll talk you through it. edit KVR Audio's website has a searchable database of thousands of free VST plugins, including the guitar amp described above. But it's also got bass amps. synthesizers, wacky effects pedals, tape delays, flangers, choruses, distortion boxes, wahs, and everything else you could imagine. All free. And they'll all work with Audacity. With about 10 minutes to set it all up you could go from your current setup to making your guitar sound like a herd of buffalo or Jimi Hendrix.